Deep Space 1 encapsulated

[KSC-98PC-1354]

  • Photo Number: KSC-98PC-1354

  • Release Date: 16-Oct-1998

    • Description: On Launch Pad 17A at Cape Canaveral Air Station, workers maneuver the second half of the fairing to encapsulate Deep Space 1, targeted for launch aboard a Boeing Delta II rocket on Oct. 24. The first flight in NASA's New Millennium Program, Deep Space 1 is designed to validate 12 new technologies for scientific space missions of the next century, including the engine. Propelled by the gas xenon, the engine is being flight-tested for future deep space and Earth-orbiting missions. Deceptively powerful, the ion drive emits only an eerie blue glow as ionized atoms of xenon are pushed out of the engine. While slow to pick up speed, over the long haul it can deliver 10 times as much thrust per pound of fuel as liquid or solid fuel rockets. Other onboard experiments include software that tracks celestial bodies so the spacecraft can make its own navigation decisions without the intervention of ground controllers. Deep Space 1 will complete most of its mission objectives within the first two months, but will also do a flyby of a near-Earth asteroid, 1992 KD, in July 1999.

    Resolution Format Width
    (Pixels)    		 Height
    (Pixels)    		 Size
    (Bytes)
    Thumbnail GIF 66 100 10081
    Slide GIF 110 156 24880
    Low GIF 158 240 54434
    Medium JPEG 507 768 100080
    High JPEG 1727 2617 1154437

    Point of Contact

    Name: NASA Kennedy Space Center

    Address:

    KSC Public Affairs Office
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John F. Kennedy Space Center
Kennedy Space Center, Florida 32899

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    Photos By: National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Scanned By: Bionetics and NASA/KSC Public Affairs Office
    Captions: Sherikon Space Systems
    Curator: NASA/KSC Internet Systems Lab (Dumoulin, Downs, Paladino)
    Last Updated: Friday August 13 18:28:12 EDT 1998 (Kay Grinter)

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